Real Steel and Paul Townend in full flight© Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins-trained Real Steel powered clear from the final fence to run out a wide margin winner of the Daily Mirror Chase at Down Royal.
Paul Townend gave the 4/5 shot a confident ride, dropping him out last of the four runners in the early stages of the two-mile-three contest.
He improved to challenge at the third last and jumped into the lead two from home in the Grade 2 event.
The six-year-old asserted before the final fence and kept up his gallop in the closing stages to post a 14 length winning margin over long-time leader Secret Investor
Real Steel was making his seasonal debut having last been seen winning a valuable handicap at Punchestown. He was also Grade 1 placed last season when second in the Ryanair Gold Cup.
Mullins said: "Paul was happy enough to sit in behind when he saw the pace they were going. His horse was first time out and he probably didn't want to go and mix it that early at that pace.
"Paul said to me he slipped into the fence past the stands and he was very lucky to stay upright. After that he just settled into the race and jumped well except for the third last and stayed on well.
"It's nice for one of our first winter horses to come out and win like that so it will give the yard a good bit of confidence.
"I'm hoping our horses will keep improving from their first run. Certainly I didn't expect a performance like that. He should improve from that.
"He's in the Ladbroke (at Newbury), so we'll see. I think Paul says he is happier going right-handed."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
